Method and means for tinting paints



Oct. 4, 1955 J, v, NANOFF 2,719,628

METHOD AND MEANS FOR TINTING PAINTS Filed June 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l y W I jar/271%, u; Ji L jpm/z gz Oct. 4, 1955 J. v. IVANOFF METHOD AND MEANS FOR TINTING PAINTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 10, 1953 ni d States Patent .METHOD AND MEANS FOR TlNTING PAINTS John v. I van'off, Chicago, n1.

Application June 10, 1953, Serial No. 360,716

s Claims. Cl. 206-47) This invention relates to a new and improved method and means for tinting and mixing colored paints and more particularly it relates to such amethod and means especially useful for the blending of colors with paints directly by the consumer or by the retailer immediately prior to the actual end use or final sales transaction. Specifically, the invention affords an improved method and means insuring the blending and preparation of the exact specific preselected shade or color Heretofore colored paints, including lacquers, varnishes, enamels and the like, have been mixed to the various shades and colors in which they 'were intended to be used directly at the factory by the manufacturer. The mixed paints were then sold to the jobbers, distributors and finally to the retailers in various size containers ranging from, for example, small half-pint cans to five gallon or larger drums. Hence, it is obvious that dealers were required to handle a stock or inventory of merchandise based not only on the innumerable colors, shades and hues but also on all of these shades, colors and hires in each or most of the various unit sizes.

Such a practice required not only a substantial investment but also resulted in deterioration and other harmful effects to those containers of paint which oftentimes remained unsold or unused in excess of the normal-shelflife of the paint. The problems inherent in such a con ventional practice were manifold and indeed were recognized by those familiar'in the art, as evidenced-bytecent attempts to solve this problem; albeit unsuccessfully.

Such attempts to alleviate the above described situation included the packaging of tinting colors in separate containers such as cans andtubes which were intended for use by the retailer in mixing to the pre-selected shade or color. This was accomplished by blending the tinting colors with basic uncolored paints which were 'in turn furnished by the manufacturer in the usual and unit sized containers.

However, these allegedly improved methods prove'd unsatisfactory for many reasons, some of which are here with enumerated. First and foremost'was the difficulty, in fact the impossibility, of achieving the proper pre+se le'cted shade of color due-to the fact thatitwas impossible to remove entirely all of the contents from the tinting color container. Since this tinting color is highly con centrated even a small percentage error resulted in an off-shade or off-color. Secondly, exposure of the paint and tinting materials to the atmosphere during mixing, which necessarily was oftentimes long prior to the end use or application, was conducive to undesirable deterioration of the paint to some extent. Finally the process was unavoidably accompanied by splashing and generally messy conditions. I

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a method and means for tinting paints which will overcome all of the disadvantages set forth hereinabove. To achieve these objectives I use a standard or .conventional paint container with a standard top closure memvarious her which may'gb ,Tpried, open the -.normal-,mla nner. The closure membcris formed witha smallerauxiliary likewise :"GlOSCd'i. by ,a. standard auxiliary closure member which may be pried open in the same manner as thebasic closuremember.

-Alt-hough at. the time that J conceived and perfected my improved method and means,.-I-.-recognized that such closure members were old in theiart,-;the use of such a container to achieve a leak-proof 'splatterless mixing 0r blending of paints was unknown to me. Later search revealed theuse of such closure members in a tinting method but even this method'has proved to be unsuccessful since the old tinting-color tube containers were used. It is again repeated that the use of such containers defeats the primary purpose of the invention since it is ,impossible to transfer every drop of the carefully: pjre: weighed and ihighly concentrated tinting material to the basic paints. Hence, the exact pre-selectedshade of color cannot be faithfully reproduced uniformly.- Of course the percentage of error .is emphasized in the smallersized units. It is therefore another important object of this invention to provide a method-and means which invariably will reproduce faithfully and to the. exact shade, any preselected color.- a

A further object is to afford a methodand means for mixing colored paints at the point of use or retailsale without exposing the paint to the atmosphere and with out the accompaniment of paint mess and similar undesirable conditions.

Still another object is to provide a method and means in which paints'maybeblended and mixed to preselected colors without necessitatingthe use of excessive solvents and undesirable thinners.

Still a further objectis to afford a method and means in which the tinting colors may be mixedwith basic paints without necessitating the exposure .of the paints to the hands of the operator.

Yet another object is to provide amethod and means for tinting paintsin whichthe tinting material container becomes a part of the mixingmear s. An object relating thereto is to utilize the tinting material container as an auxiliary agitating means during the shaking or blendv ing operation.

Yet a further object is to afford a tinting method and means in which the conventional paint container with the conventional top closure member may .be used without necessitating any modification thereof or the incorporation of any auxiliary means thereto whatsoever.

Yet still another object is to provide tinting container means which will perfectly preserve in leak-proof condition, the tinting colors but from which the tinting material may be readily removed and transferred tothe basic paint container by a simple operation requiring no auxiliary means or tools. I

And yet a further objectis to afford a simple inexpensive method and means for mixing pre-selected colored paints which is most effective but requires no particular skill or experience of the operator.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the, accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure maybe made without-departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages'of the invention. a

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, my invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 7 Referring to the drawings in which the same characters ofreference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a basic paint container and a separate concentrated coloring or tinting material container for use therewith;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of both containers connected in operational position and with the auxiliary basic paint container removed;

- Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view in elevation of both containers assembled in operational position after the tinting colors have been transferred to the basic paint container and showing the tinting color container in operational position as an auxiliary agitator;

I Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the paint container assembly showing certain details of construction;

I Fig. 5 is a view of the assembly ring adapter portion of the tinting color container used to efiect leakproof connection with the basic paint container;

Fig 6 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the containers assembled in operational position after complete transfer of the concentrated tinting color has been effected to the basic paint container; and

Figs. 7 through 13 inclusive are perspective views of the coloring means illustrating each of the consecutive steps of the entire tinting process.

In the several figures of the drawings there is illustrated a basic paint container indicated generally by reference numeral 10 and comprising a conventional can or pail such as is used presently for ready-mixed colored paints. As shown in the drawings the container 10 is not completely filled with paint P for a reason which will appear as the description proceeds. The container itself, identified as reference numeral 12, has a top opening 13 closed by a lid or cover 14 which is fitted frictionally thereon and may be removed by prying olf in the usual manner. It should be understood, of course, that this cover 14 may be positioned by other conventional means such as screw-threads and the-like.

The lid 14 is provided with an auxiliary opening 16 of substantially smaller size than the lid 14. This also may be closed by a lid or cover 18 which may be of the same type as the lid 14, namely provided with a flange 20 and frictionally fitted to seal the opening 16. Thus it should be evident that access to the contents of the can 12 may be had through this auxiliary opening 16 without necessitating the removal of the entire lid 14. It should further be noted that the can 12 is provided with a marginal top 22 provided with an annular detent or groove 24 adapted to accommodate a complementary head 26 formed in the lid 14. By this means the frictional fitting is accomplished.

The coloring or tinting material T is contained in a separate container indicated generally by reference nu meral 23. This container may be formed of a pliable waterproof material such as plastic, particularly of the vinyl or polyethyline types. It may be formed from a tube of such material heat sealed at the bottom as at 30 thereby affording an open-mouthed bag 32. The tinting 'or coloring material is contained in the bag 32.

After the bag 32 is filled with the tinting or coloring material, the bag is closed by a tying means 34. This tying means may be rubber, elastic or string. In fact, any suitable conventional means may be used. However, i prefer to use a plastic tape 36 having imbedded therein a pliable wire such as 38. This is wrapped 7 around the neck of the bag and the ends are then twisted together as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This pro vides an efiective means for closing the bag in leakproof condition, while at the same time providing a means for ready access to the contents when desired.

The ends of the bag may then be inserted through a novel adapter ring 40 having an outwardly flanged portion 42. The ends of the bag may then be folded back over the outside of the ring 40 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6 of the drawings.

Although the adapter ring is shown as a separate member, it should be understood that the same may be incorporated in the bag 28 and alfixed as an integral part thereof.

After the adapter ring 40 has been assembled with the bag 28 and the auxiliary lid 18 removed from the opening 16, the tinting container is ready for association with the basic paint container 10. This is simply and readily accomplished by merely inserting the adapter ring 49 within the auxiliary opening 18 so that the annular wall 44 is positioned adjacent the wall 46 of the auxiliary opening 18 with the end portion of the bag 32 interposed and tightly held between these two walls. The flange 42 of the annular ring 40 completes the seal and prevents the adapter ring from being pushed down into the container 12. i

By this means an effective, splashproof and leakproof tinting transfer passageway is effected between the two containers. The transfer of the tinting material from the container 28 to the basic paint container 12 may then be directly accomplished in a manner which will now be described.

It will be noted in Fig. 2 of the drawings that after the two containers have been associated in the manner abovedescribed with the container 28 inverted over the opening 18 the tinting material contents are prevented from flowing into the basic paint container 12 only by the tying member 34. Hence, all that need be done to effect the transfer is to untie the tying member 34. This releases the constriction of the neck of the bag 32 so that the tinting material contents may flow directly down through the opening 18 and into the container 12 where it may mix with the basic paint P.

While in all probability a major portion of the tinting material T will flow directly into the container 12, nevertheless at least small amounts of the color will adhere to the walls of the bag 32. As was explained previously, it is of the utmost importance that every drop of the tint T be transferred to the basic paint P in order to insure exact duplication of color shades. My invention insures complete transfer from the container 28 to the container 12 in a manner which will now be described.

After the tying member 34 has been removed from the neck of the bag 34 and the major portion of the tint T transferred by gravity-flow to the basic paint P in the container 12, the container 28 is merely pushed down into the container 12 through the opening 18 in the manner shown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings. By so doing, the bag is turned inside out so that the inner surfaces of the bag are exposed to the paint P as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Obviously then any tinting material which remains clinging to the inner surfaces of the bag 32 must of necessity be exposed and finally transferred to the paint P.

After the bag 32 has been inverted into the container 12 it will be noted that the opening 18 is still closed and sealed from the atmosphere by means of the container 28 and the adapter ring 40. The entire assembly may then be placed in a shaker or blnder to disperse the tint throughout the basic paint P. The shaker or blender may be of any conventional type which effects the blending by means of vibration. During such blending it should be obvious that the bag 32 protruding down into the paint P is likewise vibrated so that it actually serves as an agitator which assists in the blending operation. 7

After the blending has been accomplished the bag 32 is then re-inverted by merely pulling the end out through the opening 16. For this purpose a string 50 may be attached to the bottom end of the bag 30 so that it protrudes from the opening 16 even after the bag has been completely inverted as shown in Fig. of the drawing. Thus by merely grasping the protruding end of the string 50, the bag may be pulled out and reinverted to its natural condition.

Thereafter, the container 28 may be disassociated from the container 10 by merely prying off the adapter ring 40 as shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings. This once again exposes the auxiliary opening 16 so that the auxiliary lid 18 may once more be frictionally fitted over the opening thereby restoring the container 12 to its previous normal condition but with the paint mixed and blended ready for use.

It should be obvious from the above description that I have provided a novel, simple but effective method and means for preparing colored paints by transferring tinting materials packaged in a separate container to basic uncolored paint packaged in a standard paint container and mixing the same in a manner which insures the exact duplication of any desired color or shade thereof. The blending is accomplished without exposing either the paint or the tint to the atmosphere during the mixing operation. Moreover, the mixing process is accomplished without any splattering or paint mess and without the paint or tint at any time coming in contact with the hands of the operator.

It should also be apparent that the method affords means for substantially reducing the inventory or stock which paint dealers heretofore had to carry but without affecting the range or number of shades and colors available to the consumer.

It should further be apparent that the method may be practiced with conventional type present day containers and without requiring the modification or addition of any auxiliary or adapting devices. Furthermore the means employed is most effective but nevertheless inexpensive.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a paint tinting apparatus comprising a sealed paint container having a cover and holding basic paint for tinting to suit without necessitating removal of the cover from the container, said cover having an auxiliary opening defined by an upstanding marginal wall; a pliable container holding concentrated color, said pliable container adapted for association with said sealed paint container through said auxiliary opening and said pliable container adapted to disgorge its entire concentrated color contents into said sealed paint container, said pliable container comprising a plastic bag open at one end, and an adapter ring through which the open end of said bag is inserted and folded back thereover, said ring mounted within and over said marginal wall whereby the end of said bag is sealed within said auxiliary opening.

2. The paint tinting apparatus of claim 1 in which a removable tying means is positioned in leakproof constricting relationship about the neck of said bag above the concentrated color contents thereof.

3. The paint tinting apparatus of claim 1 in which said bag is invertible through said auxiliary opening to expose the inner surfaces thereof to the basic paint in said sealed paint container.

4. The paint tinting apparatus of claim 3 in which said bag after being inverted depends from said auxiliary opening in agitating available condition.

5. In a method of tinting paint to an exact preselected shade, involving the steps of sealing basic paint and sealing dispersible tints in separate containers, selecting at least one container of sealed tint, and then mixing said selected sealed tint with the basic paint in the sealed container of the latter: the improvement in said method which consists of attaching and sealing the mouth of the selected tint container to the basic paint container at an auxiliary opening in the top thereof, transferring a substantial portion of said tint directly into the basic paint container through said auxiliary opening, said auxiliary opening being sealed from the atmosphere thereby maintaining both the basic paint and the tint sealed from access by the atmosphere during mixing, then pushing said tint container through said opening until the tint container is turned inside out so that the inside of the tint container is exposed to the basic paint whereby complete transfer of all of the tint to the basic paint is assured, then agitating the combined mix for dispersing the tint therethrough while still maintaining said combined mix closed against the access of atmosphere.

6. The paint tinting method of claim 5 in which said tint container assists in agitating the mix, and the added step of returning the tint container to its original condition after dispersion has been completed by pulling on a protruding string attached to the bottom of said tint container.

7. The paint tinting method of claim 5 in which the initial transfer of the tint is effected by removing a constricting member from the neck of the tint container.

8. In a paint tinting apparatus comprising a sealed paint container having a cover and holding basic paint for tinting to suit without necessitating removal of the cover from the container, said cover having an auxiliary opening defined by an upstanding marginal wall; a pliable container holding concentrated coloring material, an adapter ring removably mounted within and over the upstanding marginal wall of said auxiliary opening, the top marginal edges of said pliable container threaded through said adapter ring and then folded back over the outside thereof in sealed relation between the ring and the marginal wall whereby the two containers are joined together with the interiors in direct communication one with the other, tying means positioned in leakproof constricting relation about the neck of the pliable container between the adapter ring and the coloring material, said tying means being removable to permit the free end of said pliable container to be pushed through said opening until the pliable container is turned inside out so that the entire concentrated color contents is completely disgorged into said sealed paint container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS- 1,775,347 Hirschhorn Sept. 9, 1930 2,050,812 Schweitzer Aug. 11, 1936 2,110,615 Wilcox Mar. 8, 1938 2,208,744 Bergerioux July 23, 1940 2,524,021 Rigby et al Sept. 26, 1950 2,528,530 Machleder Nov. 7, 1950 2,599,630 Hair June 10, 1952 2,636,644 Taylor Apr. 28, 1953 2,650,011 Anderson Aug. 25, 1953 

